คำไว้อาลัย

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My first memory is of a lady introduced to me as grandma Tavee and grandpa Pud Tesprateep. This was my mom’s aunt. I grew up with them and Dr. Ted from a young age. I called Dr. Ted uncle Nid. Grandma Tavee enrolled me in grade school at Ayuttaya which was the city where we lived. Sometimes uncle Nid would help me with homework after school until uncle Nid graduated from high school and then moved to Bangkok for his college education.

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Grandma and Grandpa moved to Bangkok to be with uncle Nid when I was in the seventh grade. I remained in grade school for two more years, I then dropped out of school and went to work with my mom’s friend at Udorn Thani. That was a big disappointment to grandma and grandpa Tesprateep. I worked there for three years and then met and married my husband Dave. When I got ready to move to America, I went to say good bye to grandma Tavee and uncle Nid (grandpa Pud had already passed away).

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I started a busy life as soon as we moved to the states. I studied and got my high school diploma and then took some college classes in order to further my job opportunities. Dave attended college full time and worked nights and continued to work full time through law school. Even though we had a very busy schedule every two years I tried to take a couple of weeks to return to Thailand to visit my family.

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As time went by we got busier, I worked full time for 35 years and took care of Dave and our two children Angela and Daniel. Angela married and now has three children, Jordan, Aleah and Dalany. Six years ago Dave and I came back to Thailand with Daniel and two of his friends. We met uncle Nid in Chang Mai at a restaurant. We had a great time visiting and had a great meal. Three years later we returned to Thailand with Angela and her husband TJ. We spent two days with uncle Nid visiting and sightseeing. Angela and Daniel called him great uncle Nid. They really enjoyed meeting and visiting with uncle Nid and admired what a humble, kind and soft spoken man he was.

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I’m gland now we could call each other on the internet and connect on facebook. Sometimes I called uncle Nid about our cats and dog, he gave me advice on how to deal with adopted and abused animals. Every time I saw uncle Nid in person or on the phone, he always told me to be healthy and take care of myself so we could see each other more often.

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On April 21 at 10:55 a.m. I heard the sad news from Sirirat Mess that uncle Nid had passed. I planned to come to Thailand for uncle Nid’s funeral but due to covid 19 and restrictions the Thai government would not let anyone from the US into Thailand so I was unable to attend.

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